Apparatus for transferring heat



June 17, 1930. J. F. WAIT 1,765,038

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRIKG HEAT Filed Aug. 8, 1925 2 SheetsSheet 1INVENTOR flash)? FWmt.

ATTORNEYS BYJ W J. F. WAIT APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRINQ HEAT June 17,1930.

Filed Aug. 8 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 17,1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JUSTIN I. WAIT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR TO SUN OIL COMPANY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING HEAT Applicationfiled August a, 1925. Serial No. 48,987.

. y invention relates to an improved method and apparatus fortransferring heat from a source to a point ofuse.

More particularly my invention relates to an improved method for thetransfer of heat 7 through the medium of metallic vapors, for

example, of mercury, cadmium, zinc and the like or' mixtures thereof andto heating apparatus of improved design and great elli- 10 ciency.

' Heretofore heat transference through the' mediumof metallic vapors hasbeen accomplished by various methods and by the use of variousapparatus.However, while results of substantial practical" value have beenobtained, such methods and; apparatus as have been used have not provedentirely satisfactory and have been open to numerous objections, chiefamong which are that the efficiency of the metalhc vapors is decreasedby the presence of entrained metal and that the flow of the vapors isretarded by accumulations of scale, oxide and other impurities pres- Ient in the apparatus or carried thereinby the vapors.

Now, it is the object of my invention to provide a method and apparatusfor the utilization of metallic vapor as a heat transfer medium withmaximum efliciency and by which the vapors will be freed from entrainedmetal and from solid impurities accumulation of which tend to retard theflow ofv the vapors. Further objects of my invention are to providemeans for accurately controlling the pressure and flow of the metallicvapors in the apparatus to the end that they may be utilized withmaximum efliciency.

' Having indicated, in a general way, the nature and purpose of mylnvention, I will 40 now proceed to a detailed description thereof withreference to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated a formofap paratus embodying my invention in so far as it relates to details ofconstruction and which may be utilized for carryin out the methodembodying my invention, though it will be understood that the practiceof my method is not dependent upon the use of any particular form ofapparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in which .an element in the Figure 1 is adiagrammatic view of an ap paratus ,for effecting heat transferencethrough-the medium of metallic vapors.

Figure 2-is a sectional view of a separator included as an element inthe apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectionalviewof a vapor flow controldevice included as anelement in the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional'view of. a modification of the subject of Figure3.

Figure 5 is a side view, partly broken away and partly in section, of aheater included as apparatus shown in Figure 1. t v

Figure 6 is a view 'showinga detail of construction of-the subjectof-Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a des tail of construction of thesubject of. Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a vapor pressure control device includedas an element in the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

The apparatus consists essentially of a heating element comprising achamber 3 from which depend fingers'29interiorly divided by verticaltubular partitions 36 to form passages within the gers' in communicationwith the chamber 3 at their upper ends and I with each other at'theirlower ends through apertures formed in the partitions. The heatingelement, or heater, is suitably mounted in brickwork and is adapted tobe heated by the application ofheat about the fingers 29. The heatingelement is charged w th metal, as mercury, cadmium, zinc, etc.-, or mm-.tures thereof, for example, to a level in chamber 3 indicated by thebroken line 35 in Figures 1 and 7. On the application of heat, the metalcirculates through the assages, formed'in the fingers, to and from t echamber 3 and vapors arising from the metal collect in the upper portionof the chamber,- being led therefrom through a pipe 4. The heated metalcirculating to and from the chamber 3 passes downwardly into the fingersat increasing velocity and upward with relatively high velocity, whichdecreases on the passage of the metal into the chamber, thus permittingflotation of solid impurities, such as oxide, scale, etc., which may bemixed with the metal. An aperture 33, provided with a suitable closure,is-provided 1n the end of the chamber 3 at a level permitting removal ofimpurities from the surface of the metal in the chamber. a

The pipe 4, which leads from the top of chamber 3 and which serves as apassage for metallic vapors therefrom, is connected to a vapor flowcontrol device which consists of a chamber 19 into which, from its top,an-end portion of pipe 4 projects. From adjacent .the top of chamber 19a pipe 18 leads to a heat absorbing unit 5, illustrated as a coil withina chamber, which may contain material to be heated and which will absorbheat from metallic vapors in the coil. From the bottom of the chamber 19a pipe extends downwardly and upwardly, its end being connected to thebottom of a second chamber 21, provided with 20 cooling flanges 25, andfrom which a pipe 22, an end .portion of which extends upwardly withinthe chamber, leads to a separator 7 A pipe 23 is connected to thechamber 21 at its top.

25 the flow of vapor from heater 3 to heat exchanger 5 may becontrolled. In the opera tion of the control device, the chamber 21 anthe pipe leading therefrom to chamber 19 are filled with a'metal 26similar to that in the 30 heating element, for example, mercury. helevel of the metal in chamber 21 is controlled by pipe 22. The chamber21 is positioned at a higher level than the chamber 19 and the metal isprevented from flowing from chamher 21 to chamber19 by maintaining apressure in chamber 21 such that liquid cannot normally rise in chamber19 above the lower end of the pipe 4. The desired pressure may bemaintained in chamber 21 by means of a pump w attached to the pipe 23.So long as the metal in chamber 21 is prevented from flowing intochamber 19, vapors issuing from pipe 4 will pass from chamber 19 throughpipe 18 to the heat exchange coil 5. The vapors on entering chamber 19will lose velocity and any entrained metal will be dropped therein. Ifit be desired to shut off the flow of vapors from pipe 4, such isaccomplished by varying the pressure on the metal in chamber 21, whichwill cause it to flow into chamber 19 and form a liquid seal over theend of pipe 4. I

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the chamber 21, containing metal27, is positioned at a lower level than the chamber 19 and the metal 27is caused to flow into chamber 19 to seal pipe 4 by the application ofpressure through pipe 24.

The metallic vapors, which enter the heat exchange coil 5 are in' partcondensed therein and vapor and condensate flow from the coil through apipe 6 to a separator 7. The separator comprises a chamber 7 to whichpipe 6 is connected at a point between its top and bottom. Opposite tothe point of connection Chamber 21 forms a means whereby p d beingconnected to a condenser.

of pipe 6 a pipe 14 leading to a condenser 7 is connected. The vapor andcondensate entering separator 7 are separated, the vapors passing out ofthe chamber to the condenser 7 and the condensate passing back to theheating element through a suitable pipe 8 leading from the bottom of theseparator. 1 body of condensate tors 7 7 7 and 7 at the same level 35 asin the heater 3, and impurities therein are permitted to settle out byflotation. The separator 7 is provided with a removable cover 13,carrying a depending flange element 10 which enters a body of metal, asmercury, carried in a trough 11, formed adjacent the topof separator 7,to form a liquid seal. Impurities separated from the metal in separator7 may be readily removed from time to time on removal of the top 13. Theseparators 7 7 and 7 are all similar to the separator 7.

Any metal which overflows from chamber 21, of the vapor flow controldevice, through ipe 22 enters a separator 7 similar to that describedabove, except that since no vapors enter it isvented to atmosphereinstead of The condensate from the condenser 7 ceives vapors from theseparator 7 who receives both vapor and condensate from the heatexchanger 5, passes to a similar separator 7 vented to atmosphere andthence back to the heater.

In order that any excess pressure of vapors in the apparatus may berelieved, a safety device is provided which consists of a chamber 50into which extends downwardly the end portion of a pipe 40 connected tovapor pipe 4. A body of metal, as mercury, is maintained in chamber 50at a level above the end of pipe 40, the level being determined by an.overflow pipe 42. A pipe 44 leads from the upper portion of chamber 50to a condenser 45 in turn connected to a separator 7 such as has beendescribed, vented to atmosphere and connected to the heater. Inoperation the metal in chamber 50 act as a liquid seal in pipe 40, theamount of metal over the end of the pipe being sufiiicnet to sealagainst normal pressure in the apparatus. If the pressurein theapparatus increases, vapors will force their way through the liquid sealin chamber 50 and the pressure will be relieved. The vapors will becondensed in condenser 45 and the condensate freed from impurities inthe separator, returned to the heater.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is 1. In a heating apparatus, a heater adaptedfor the vaporlzationof a metal, a heat exchanger, a conduit for thepassage of vapors from the heater to the exchanger, and means forlimiting the pressure .of vapors in said apparatus comprising a secin'combination,

is maintained 1n separa-' which rend conduit receiving vapors from saidap paratus and having an outlet controlled by a liquid metal seal.

2. In a heating apparatus, in combination, a heater adapted for thevaporization of mercury, a heat exchanger, a conduit for the passage ofvapors from the heater to the exchanger, and means for limiting thepressure of vapors in said apparatus comprising a second conduitreceiving vapors from said apparatus and having an outlet controlled bya mercury seal.

3. In a heating apparatus, in combination, a heater adapted for thevaporization of a metal, a heat exchanger, a conduit affording a passagefor vapors from the heater to the heat exchanger, a second conduitreceiving vapors from the heater, a chamber into which said secondconduit extends, a body of liquid metal in said chamber, means tomaintain the level of said body of liquid metal above the outlet end ofsaid second conduit a distance suflicient to prevent the discharge ofvapors therefrom under predetermined pressure and an outlet from saidchamber above the level of the liquid metal therein. I

4. In a heating apparatus, in combination, a heater adapted for theyvaporization of a metal, a heat exchanger, a conduit afiording a passagefor vapors from the heater, a chamber into which the outlet end portionof said conduit extends and a conduit for the passage of vapors fromsaid chamber tothe heat exchanger.

Y 5. In a heating apparatus, in combination,

' a heater adapted for the vaporization of a metal, a heat exchanger, aconduit afi'ording a passage for vapors from the heater, a chamher intowhich the outlet end portion of said conduit extends, a conduit for thepassage of vapors from said chamber to'the heat exchanger, meansaffording a supply of liquid metal to said chamber in quantitysuflicient to afl'ord a seal for the outlet end of said first mentionedconduit and means for controlling the supply of metal insaid chamber.

6. In a heating apparatus, in combination, a heater adapted for thevaporization of a metal, a heat exchanger, a conduit afiording a passagefor vapors from the heater, a chamber into which the outlet end portionof said conduit extends, a conduit for the passage of vapors from saidchamber to the heat exchanger, a second chamber, a supply of liquidmetal in'said second chamber, a conduit affording communication betweensaid chambers and means connected to said last mentioned chamber wherebythe pressure therein may be equalized with that within said firstmentioned chamber or differentiated there-v from toefi'ect transfer ofsaid liquid metal from one chamber to another.

7 In a heatin apparatus, in combination, a' heater adapted for thevaporization of a metal, a heat exchanger, a conduit aflfording apassage for vapors from the heater to the heat exchanger, a condenser, aseparator, a

conduit connecting the heat interchanger-

